Hosting can be stressful, especially during the holiday season. There are so many details and preparations to get right, and no matter how much you plan, there’s always a hiccup. Either way, it’s important to know the right order of operations, so you don’t lose your head—or worse, end up with cold food.
We asked a few hosting pros the last touches you can put off until the very end, and they did not disappoint.
Anything Ice
If nothing else, make sure you save the ice stuff for last. Whether you’re preparing drinks, going for decorative ice like cubes or balls, or maybe even have a decorative ice piece, this should definitely go last for obvious reasons—it’ll melt.
“Martinis just don’t taste the same when they aren’t made with ice that has a proper amount of surface area,” says hosting pro Christa Cotton.
House Scents
“Tasks tied to freshness and aroma should be done shortly before guests arrive,” Cotton says.
This way, your guests will get the freshest version of your home when they arrive. They’ll be able to take that away with their memories, and not the swirled-up smells of dinner or drinks.
Prep Yourself
While you should already have your outfit picked out and planned any makeup you intend to do, make sure you leave enough time to take care of yourself just before guests arrive. Like your home’s smell, you want them to get the freshest version of you.
“This is one that always gets forgotten! You’ve styled your home, ordered or cooked amazing food, but you didn’t think about you,” says event planner Shumaila Panhwar. “Step away from all the prep work for a quick moment and be ready with ease.”
Start Hosting
Most importantly, it’s crucial to know when the prep has ended and the party has begun. Maybe you realized you forgot to switch the hand towels in the bathroom. Or maybe you spotted some dust on the range hood you wish you could tackle.
If your guests have already begun arriving, it’s important to know when to let go of the perfect event and just enjoy the party; stop fixing and start hosting.
“By that point, the big decisions should already be behind you. Continuing to adjust details rarely improves the experience and often just pulls the host out of the moment,” says master of ceremonies Nathan Cassar. “What matters most just before guests arrive is how you show up.”
5 Things You Should Never Put Off
Before you start sighing in relief, make sure these crucial tasks are done; you (and your guests) will thank yourself later.
- Menu and food prep. Ensure that your menu is solidified before the event so that you can adjust to any dietary restrictions and grocery shop accordingly.
- Pre-batching. If you’re serving any kind of mixed drink, Cotton suggests you get it batched out beforehand. This will make hosting so much easier when using just a pitcher instead of building a drink from scratch every time.
- Seating charts. If you’re seating people, make sure the layout of the table is decided beforehand so you can make place cards.
- Lighting and music. While these things will (and should) adjust over time, be sure you have a lighting plan and playlist prepared. Then, you can adjust it according to how the space is being used, Cassar says.
- Major cleaning. Any vacuuming, furniture rearranging, or core setup should be done the morning of the event. “The first few minutes guests are in your home set the tone, and those moments are better spent welcoming people than finishing tasks,” Cassar says.